Canuck notes

comrie44 writes "Just a few points on Canada's Pacific coast team, the Sedins and Bertuzzi namely.

SEDINS
Okay, I'll admit it, the Canucks are a one line team. You shut down the big line of Sedin/Sedin/King and you beat the Nucks. For those who haven’t been following the Canucks this season, the Twins and rookie/Newfie Jason King have combined for 16 points in this young campaign. Who'd of thought that 7 games in and Daniel Sedin, the 2nd overall pick in the 1999 entry draft and supposed bust has 7 points to lead the 2nd highest scoring team in the league last year in points. Danny and Hank have carried the momentum from their strong play at last seasons end into this year. I know it's early, but if the Sedins keep this up and the big line gets back on track the Canucks won't be an easy team to beat.

JASON KING & MANITOBA
The Newfoundland native is currently 2nd among rookie scorers with 5 points and 3 goals. There's still a chance the 7th round draft pick can be sent down so I won't start with the Calder nominee talk. King isn't an especially skilled player, but he seems to have that Luc Robitaille-esque quality of being in the right place at the right time, which makes him an ideal linemate for the twins.
In other Moose news, Sergei Fedorov has been playing like his brother and vice versa. Big Fedor currently leads the A in scoring with 5 goals and 11 points through 7 games, while Sergei just recently recorded his 1st goal in Anaheim. Rookies Ryan Kesler and defenseman Kirill Koltsov have also been impressive.
The RJ Umberger talks seem to have come to an impasse, unfortunate to be sure, as King, Koltsov, Kesler, Fedorov and Tomas Mojzis have leaped the former Hobey Baker candidate on the depth charts. If he goes unsigned he can become a UFA and the Canucks will recieve only a 2nd round pick in return, which does not seem adequate for a player of RJ's potential.

TODD BERTUZZI TO GET HIS KWAN
By all means contract talks with 1st team all-star Todd Bertuzzi seem to be going well, with Brian Burke scheduled to meet owner John McCaw in New York to discuss terms of the deal, said to be a 3-year 24 million dollar contract. That would average out to around 7.5 million a year, making him the highest paid Canuck. While you could argue that no athlete should collect such a sum, 7.5 sounds more than fair for a player of Todds calibre, who could of easily demanded and received more than that (take note Gaborik).

Bertuzzi, with only 3 points on the season, showed that his value exceeds the scoresheet in last nights game v.s. St Louis. Screening Osgood on Ohlunds goal and then turning the game in the Canucks favour with a hit on Barret Jackman. The shoulder check, that has to be considered the 'hit of the year' so far, knocked the Bert-shadowing sophomore into the middle of next week. Todd then continued to walk away after a Pronger clothesline that won the Canucks the game. "